Niche Mackay business goes global

A NICHE training company has opened in Mackay, and it's one of only two Australia-wide.

Coach8 offers training in cleaning and restoration, under the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The certification is valid worldwide and is in high demand.

Director of Coach8, Scott McFadzen, has received requests from the Persian Gulf country of Kuwait, Dubai, Singapore and New Zealand - all from people desperate to complete the training course.

Mr McFadzen is also overwhelmed by the interest received from across Australia.

"The people who have enrolled in the course are travelling from Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Rockhampton, Cairns, Tasmania... everywhere,” he said.

"When they come to Mackay they spend a whole week here pumping money back into the local economy, staying in hotels and going to restaurants.”

What makes Coach8 special is its interactive training facilities. The business has the only interactive training wall (complete with all of the different materials typically found in a home) in the world, outside of America.

Mr McFadzen also built a fully interactive "flood training” house to give his students a realistic experience.

"We decided to build a three bedroom home that represents all of the building materials used in our region,” he said.

"The students can interact with all of the different types of carpets and wood they would normally see when working in the industry.

"We then completely flood the house and the students have to dry it out using the correct methods.”

The first training course was held at the end of last year and multiple instructors were sourced from overseas to assist.

"We worked with instructors from Indianapolis, Tennessee and Wales. They were specialists in mould remediation, heat drying and structural drying,” Mr McFadzen said.

"Our students take away some really practical knowledge, and they are taught from the best in the industry.”

Mr McFadzen would like to hold one training course a month in the future, but at this stage holds only about five each year in Mackay.

Coach8 also runs courses in other cities, including Melbourne and Brisbane.

Mr McFadzen is humbled by the overwhelming success of his new business.

"My wife Roslyn and I love training and talking to people, so we are passionate about this venture,” he said.